London’s Metropolitan Police has made a remarkable recovery, announcing the retrieval of a Ferrari F512M sports car stolen from former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy a staggering 28 years ago.
This particular car was one of two Ferraris pilfered from two Formula One drivers during the event at Imola in April 1995. Despite extensive efforts at the time, the stolen vehicles, including the Ferrari F512M valued at approximately £350,000, had remained elusive.
The breakthrough in this decades-old case came after the Metropolitan Police received a report from Ferrari earlier this year, prompting an investigation by the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit. Ferrari had conducted checks on a car being purchased by a US buyer through a UK broker in 2023, uncovering its status as a stolen vehicle.
London Police Retrieve Ferrari Stolen from F1 Driver in Italy 28 Years Ago (Credits: The Drive)
Utilizing international cooperation and extensive enquiries spanning the globe, the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit meticulously traced the car’s journey. It was revealed that after its theft, the Ferrari had been shipped to Japan, only to resurface in the UK in late 2023.
PC Mike Pilbeam, who spearheaded the investigation, highlighted the dedication and collaboration that led to this breakthrough: “The stolen Ferrari – valued at around £350,000 – remained missing for over 28 years until we managed to locate it in just four days. Our efforts involved painstaking enquiries and cooperation with authorities worldwide. Working closely with partners such as the National Crime Agency, Ferrari, and international car dealerships proved crucial in unraveling the vehicle’s history and preventing its departure from the country.”
